>> Predictably, not everybody is thrilled with the Flipper’s capacity for digital mayhem. Some have argued that it just makes hacking too easy—that it lowers the barrier of digital penetration to the point where even folks with very limited know-how can now pwn every device in sight; other critics argue that it’s a tool that will be used (mostly) to break the law. Earlier this year, Amazon seemed to take this position and officially banned sales of the device on its platform, arguing that it could be used as a credit card skimmer. Law enforcement has also been keeping a watchful eye on the device. In August, The Daily Dot reported that a police fusion center in South Dakota was circulating a warning to other intel and police agencies that the Flipper could be used by domestic extremists to hack **energy grids**. In recent years, shipments of the Flipper have also been seized by police in multiple countries, including the U.S. and Brazil. In Brazil, the crackdown on the Flipper appears notably more severe—amounting to an effective ban. This has stirred online speculation as to whether other countries might issue similar bans. While a U.S. crackdown of this sort seems highly unlikely, it’s still worth pondering whether the tool could stir up regulatory concerns at some point in the future.